Novels by Stuffy

NEALI punched him again on the face, and this time his nose cracked, followed by the spray of blood. "Please, stop!" He cried, his voice breaking. I threw him down onto the sidewalk, before slamming my knee into his chest. He coughed, and gasped, curling up, but I pulled back up and shoved him against the curb. "You think money makes you untouchable?" I yelled, landing another punch."Neal! Stop!"The voice cut through the haze in my head, but I did not look."NEAL!"That's when her voice registered. I turned to see Elisa running towards me, eyes wide with shock. She grabbed my arm just as I raised my feet again. "Stop it! You'll kill him!"I looked down at Jack. His face was a bloody mess, his lip was split, and one of his eyes was swollen shut. He groaned, barely able to lift his head."Get out of my way, Elisa," I growled."No! This is too much! You're being violent again!" She shouted before stepping between us.I was stunned. Violent again? "He pushed me into the road! I almos

NEALThe cool morning air hit me in the face again as I emerged from the house. I walked down the driveway, shoes scuffing against the cracked pavement. My heart was pounding like a drum, but it wasn't from running or fear. No. It was anger. White-hot, choking anger.I did not look back at the house. I didn't care to see her standing there while Jack came after me. My mind was done trying to make sense of her choices. It was done trying to forgive. I'd decided to just take a little walk before leaving, because I feared something bad would happen if I got into my car and drove in this state.I walked to the roadside, where the traffic on the main street was already busy with commuters. Cars zipped by, engines were roaring and horns were honking every so often. I stood near the curbs and stared across the road, not really seeing anything.My jaw was so tight and my hands were clenched again. She called me here to what? Rub it in my face? Ask me to cook for him? I felt sick. I'd done ev

NEAL I didn't know what the hell I was walking into when I pulled into that driveway.I killed the engine and just sat there for a minute, gripping the steering wheel, staring at the house that used to feel like home. It looked the same on the outside. It had the same white siding, same rose bush under the window that she loved so much, but it all felt different now. It felt like a stranger's place, like a house that belonged to someone I didn't recognize anymore.When Elisa called and said she'd sign the papers, I almost didn't come because it felt too quick to be true considering how she'd been begging me not to leave but I thought maybe she was done putting on that mask of pity-seeking sadness on her face, like she didn't know what she'd done. Part of me wanted to tell her to mail them or just leave them in the mailbox. But some stupid part of me wanted to see her one more time. Maybe I was still hoping she was going to say something that made sense.I stepped out of the truck and

NEAL I didn't know what the hell I was walking into when I pulled into that driveway.I killed the engine and just sat there for a minute, gripping the steering wheel, staring at the house that used to feel like home. It looked the same on the outside. It had the same white siding, same rose bush under the window that she loved so much, but it all felt different now. It felt like a stranger's place, like a house that belonged to someone I didn't recognize anymore.When Elisa called and said she'd sign the papers, I almost didn't come because it felt too quick to be true considering how she'd been begging me not to leave but I thought maybe she was done putting on that mask of pity-seeking sadness on her face, like she didn't know what she'd done. Part of me wanted to tell her to mail them or just leave them in the mailbox. But some stupid part of me wanted to see her one more time. Maybe I was still hoping she was going to say something that made sense.I stepped out of the truck and

ELISA I sat at the edge of the bed, my hands shaking as I stared at the blank wall. Everything felt cold- even though the sun was high in the sky and warm light was pouring in through the windows. My heart felt so heavy. Heavy? That wasn't enough to describe it. It was more of, broken.I didn't get a wink of sleep the night before. I kept hearing Neal's voice in my head. I kept seeing his eyes- how disappointed they looked. He wasn't even angry. He was more of hurt.And God, it made me feel like shit. I covered my face with both hands and let out a long breath. What the hell had I done? How did I let things get this far? How did I become the woman who cheats on her husband and then screams at him in front of strangers like he was the problem?I should have never said those things to him at the hotel. "You do nothing... I'm the head of the house..."I cringed just thinking about those words. Because Neal had given me everything. A good home. A comfortable life. He was kind and sure, h

NEAL The garage was dark. The only light came from the moon shining through the small square window near the top of the wall. Dust was hanging in the air like ghosts and the silence was pressing on me like I was under a heavy blanket. I didn't go to our bedroom, because I could not stand the sight of her. I stood there for a while, just breathing heavily and battling the urge to cause more destruction than I already have. I wanted to scream, get my hand on something and break it. But I didn't.I just stood there, soaking in all the anger and pain and sadness alone. Like I had been all along and didn't even know it. That was the moment a soft knock sounded on the garage door, snapping me out of my reverie."Neal?" Elisa's voice came through, low and unsure. "Can I come in?"I didn't answer.But she pushed the door open slowly anyway and stepped in. She had taken off her heels. Her feet were bare, and hair was done now, a little messy. Her makeup had smudged, and she looked tired- he